re: the debates. Are we going to be subjected to the "low" expectations

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

line,again? Remember how the media trumpeted Gore's intellectual edge over Bush, thus lowering the expectations of GWB's debate ability? Then when Bush was able to (barely) put together sentences that reflected sporadically coherent thought, he was praised as exceeding expectations while appearing to be a "regular guy." I still remember how flabbergasted I was by the media's deconstruction of the debates...that was back in my naive days.

Certainly, after 4 yrs as the POTUS he should,without question, be able to articulate his accomplishments, as well as clearly describe his detailed plans of action to address the most urgent domestic/foreign policies. So will he get a pass, again? I, for one, plan to write LTTE's, email media outlets and have one on ones with anyone who adheres to the low expectations line. MKJ

[Bluebear]

1. Bush is a masterful debater.

Very strong and convincing, hell his State of the Union promoting the Iraq War was a showpiece. He should tear Kerry to shreds in a debate.

And I will keep on saying so.

[PretzelWarrior]

4. I don't agree with you. BUsh is a jerk. People are on to him.

ALl we gotta do is get the media out of the kneeling position in front of Bush's d!ck and make them tell the REAL Story. I think it's been pretty well documented how well Gore actually did in the debates and how the craven, whoreish media chose to spin it.

THis time, Media darlings actually like hanging with Kerry more than Bush the lesser. SO there's hope.

Bush is stuttering nincompoop. ALl Kerry has to do is forcefully but calmly push Bush's buttons and not allow him to come off as "poow pitiful piccked on pwesident".


If you can tell murderous terrorists to "brin it on", Mr. President....I think you can deal with some very withering attacks from Kerry on your C- grade for the presidency.

[Bluebear]

14. You miss my point

The more we keep saying how wonderful Bush is, the more people will expect. I am not going to go for this "give Bush a break" business anymore and for the media to say he "won" just by showing up and not passing out.

[blondeatlast]

11. Masterful gift for language and exceptional clarity, too. nt

[Piperay]

16. Yes, I agree

chimp is such a master of words he will make 'mincemeat' out of Kerry and win each and every debate.;-)

We need to tell everyone how terrific chimp is to unrealistically raise expectations so the 'crash and burn' will look even worse. :evilgrin:

[PretzelWarrior]

2. Kerry better be ready. THey will try it again. He's a one trick pony

all he can do is build up the opponent as epitome of eloquence and Law School precision. Then talk about how sh*tty they are to flaunt their nawledge as he flails and sputters and says "the man's using fuzzy math!"

I think we'll do better than Gore's sighs and headshakes, orange makeup, and "Lockbox".

But they shouldn't be afraid to make Bush answer some tough questions. It's not like the white house can ban him from WH press briefings if Kerry forces him into a corner on issues.

It would be great to have surrogates talking about how a president should be able to offer more than a high school debate team anchored by the "popular preppy" whose brain is vaporized from alcohol consumption.

[spanone]

3. Hell, it worked four years ago.

[Gman]

5. of course we are

think about it. they have no choice but to let their boy loose with the head of the Harvard debating team. Bush doesn't stand a chance so they must lower any expectations to something around a rating of "vaguely coherent" in order to claim he won the debates.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

7. I know what you mean, as much as I hope the electorate would

have much higher expectations of a sitting president in the debates than "not f*ing up", I believe the tone has already been set. However, the difference between now and 2000 is exactly that...he is the freaking POTUS for God's sakes, he cannot be allowed to get away with incoherence and pointless repetition.

And I thought Reagan had a poor ability to speak extemporaneously on display,in his debates with Carter and Mondale. Now, Reagan looks like Ralph Freakin' Waldo Emerson in comparison to GWB. MKJ
on edit, added comma

[Julien Sorel]

6. Bush has "heart and soul." It says so right on his web page.

And he's a cowboy, a rugged throwback to our nation's pioneering past. I know this because I saw a picture of him with a cowboy hat on. How can such a man lose a debate against the stiff and cold Kerry?

[blondeatlast]

12. Kennebunkport; west of Crawford! nt

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

8. I'm kicking this, knowing that most people here....

believe that GWB should be the mop with which John Kerry cleans the floor, during the debates. Although, unfortunately, the press may still give the POTUS a pass...

HOWEVER, there have to be journalists out there who would be willing to FINALLY acknowledge the level of ignorance and inability to articulate that we saw with the 2000 debates. Who will it be? I'm encouraged by the laughter GWB was subjected to at the Minority Journalist event.

Am I being naive, again? Could GWB possibly get away with serial ignorance, like he did in 2000? I am looking forward to/dreading the debates. MKJ

[angee_is_mad]

9. Probably

and at the end of the night, the pundits will say that Bush won the debates, because he did not make any GREAT mistakes!
Life's a bitch then you die!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

10. Thanks, angee_is_mad, for putting this in perspective

I was in shock at the reverential treatment GWB received in 2000 for being able to barely string together sentences, and realize that it most likely will happen again.

I guess my horror at our verbally challenged prez is evident. I do believe that "off the cuff" remarks are the most telling regarding our inner selves, and GWB is downright scary in that regard (even more so after I had a glass of wine a short while ago).However, the debates will be a part of the whole picture, independent of media spin. MKJ

on edit, repairing grammer

[blondeatlast]

13. Bunnypants has an extraordinary gift with language

and speaks with remarkable clarity extemporaneously. Succinct and innovative ideas slip from his tongue like honeydew. He's a remarkable speaker and invokes the powers of the most gifted preacher.

Pass it on--to the media, to your swing-vote friends, to BP himself.

We should NOT have lowered expectations for Bunnypants. Why, he's the pResident of the United States, for goodness sakes.

[DeepModem Mom]

15. kick

[bushwakker]

17. You actually think there are going to be debate(s)

one debate - by sattelite. bush in the oval office, kerry in a phone booth in portland. russert or tony snow moderates. forget about the debates awol will skate.